RapidX a pricey boon for Delhi-Meerut commuters

Right now, I pay R350 (for a monthly pass). For this new train... it appears that the monthly cost will be over ₹4,000-beyond my spending capacity TARA CHAND,

- Ashna Butani

"Our train does not seem to be a priority for anyone... Look, it's late again today," said Kalu Ram, as he stared out of the window of the Delhi Express Special train on an early October morning.

The train on its way to Delhi - had unceremoniously halted at New Ghaziabad at 6.53am for 10 minutes, delaying Kalu Ram and hundreds of other passengers, yet again.

The 50-year-old is a safai karamchari, who lives in Meerut and works in Delhi, and has been taking the Delhi Express Special train for 20 years. Each morning, he leaves home at 5am, and gets to work at Mandawali in Delhi by 9am.

There are seven trains from Meerut to Delhi, three of which leave in the morning, serving as a lifeline for those working in the capital.

Of the ₹15,000 Kalu Ram earns each month, he spends ₹359 monthly on the train commute, and spends over four hours on the train, and another hour on the road. "I lost out on so much time with my children when they were growing up because of the commute," he recalled.

The swanky RapidX corridor, a part of which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 20, is however set to change this. For now, the train, which started operating on October 21, covers 17 km, from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot: a speed of 160 kmph. According to National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), the total footfall for the day on RapidX was close to 10,000 on October 21.

By 2025, the full 82km stretch from Meerut to Delhi will be covered by the rapid train. This is expected to reduce travel time for Kalu Ram to less than an hour, but it is likely to cost him over three times more money than what he pays for a ticket on the current route.

"I want to take a faster train, but I also want to save money so that I can buy my grandchildren some goodies," said the 50-year-old.